S Lakes GPs sceptical at test plans

11:13am Thursday 31st July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

DOCTORS in South Lakeland have greeted Government plans to test GPs’ competence every five years with scepticism.

The new system has been mooted in response to the Harold Shipman case and is likely to include observation of doctors' consultations and complaints history along with feedback from colleagues, managers and patients.

Doctors who didn’t pass under the scheme – which is set to be piloted over the next 18 months – would be struck off the general medical council’s register.

Critics have said the additional tests will mean more red tape for busy GPs but Dr William Lumb, who practices at Sedbergh Health Centre, said he was “trying to keep an open mind”.

“The devil’s in the detail. In theory there is nothing wrong with five yearly revalidation. We are already assessed annually in South Lakeland but undoubtedly any extra work that comes in is going to take time away from seeing patients. Plus all our costs are going up and this could be an added expense for GPs which we could do without.”

Meanwhile a national survey has found that access to GP services in Cumbria is among the best in Britain. The Department of Health questioned more than 26,000 of the county’s patients between January and March, about things like telephone access, booking appointments and access to patients’ preferred doctors.

It found 94 per cent were satisfied with telephone access to their local practice, 91 per cent were able to get appointments with their family doctor and to see a doctor within 48 hours, and 83 per cent were happy with their ability to make advance appointments.

Dr Ian Mitchell, who chairs Cumbria Primary Care Trust’s Professional Executive Committee, said: “These results reflect the commitment of GPs and the PCT to meet the needs of patients across Cumbria. Providing improved access to GP services is a key priority and we will be using the feedback from this important survey to help drive further improvements in the future.”